Zeta Ophiuchi was as soon as in shut orbit with one other star, earlier than being ejected when that companion was destroyed in a supernova explosion. Infrared information from Spitzer reveals a dramatic shock wave that was shaped by materials blowing off the star’s floor and slamming into gasoline in its path. Chandra’s information reveals an X-ray emission bubble positioned across the star, produced by gasoline that was heated by the shock wave to tens of tens of millions of levels. Chandra’s information helps shed extra mild on this runaway star’s story. Credit score: X-Ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Cambridge/J. Sisk-Reynes et al. ; Radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA; Lens: PanSTARRS
- Zeta Ophiuchi is a singular star that most likely had a companion that was destroyed when it went supernova.
- The supernova explosion despatched Zeta Ophiuchi, seen in Spitzer (inexperienced and crimson) and Chandra (blue) information, hurtling into area.
- The X-rays detected by Chandra come from a gasoline that has been heated to tens of millions of levels by the consequences of a shock wave.
- Scientists are working to match laptop fashions of this object to clarify the info obtained at completely different wavelengths.
Zeta Ophiuchi is a star with an advanced previous, because it was seemingly ejected from its birthplace by a robust stellar explosion. A brand new look detailed by
” data-gt-translate-attributes=”[{” attribute=””>NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory helps tell more of the history of this runaway star.
Located approximately 440 light-years from Earth, Zeta Ophiuchi is a hot star that is about 20 times more massive than the Sun. Evidence that Zeta Ophiuchi was once in close orbit with another star, before being ejected at about 100,000 miles per hour when this companion was destroyed in a supernova explosion over a million years ago has been provided by previous observations.
In fact, previously released infrared data from NASA’s now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, seen in this new composite image, reveals a spectacular shock wave (red and green) that was formed by matter blowing away from the star’s surface and slamming into gas in its path. A bubble of X-ray emission (blue) located around the star, produced by gas that has been heated by the effects of the shock wave to tens of millions of degrees, is revealed by data from Chandra.
A team of astronomers has constructed the first detailed computer models of the shock wave. They have begun testing whether the models can explain the data obtained at different wavelengths, including X-ray, infrared, optical, and radio observations. All three of the different computer models predict fainter X-ray emissions than observed. In addition, the bubble of X-ray emission is brightest near the star, whereas two of the three computer models predict the X-ray emission should be brighter near the shock wave. The team of astronomers was led by Samuel Green from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies in Ireland.
Sooner or later, these scientists plan to check extra advanced fashions with further physics – together with the consequences of turbulence and particle acceleration – to see if the settlement with the X-ray information will enhance.
A paper describing these outcomes has been accepted into the journal Astronomy and astrophysics. The Chandra information used right here was initially analyzed by Jesús Toala of the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain, who additionally wrote the proposal that led to the observations.
Reference: “Thermal emission from bow shocks. II. 3D magnetohydrodynamic fashions of zeta Ophiuchi” by S. Inexperienced, J. Mackey, P. Kavanagh, TJ Haworth, M. Moutzouri and VV Gvaramadze, accepted, Astronomy and astrophysics.
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202243531
NASA’s Marshall House Flight Middle manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Middle controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.
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